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NSGEU calls on McNeil Liberals to keep our blood supply safe and available for patients

“The NSGEU/NUPGE believes in a publicly funded and operated health care system that keeps our blood supply safe and available to patients who need it.” — Jason MacLean, NSGEU President

Halifax (23 Oct. 2017) — Protecting people from pay-for-plasma corporate interest is critical to keep our public healthcare system safe and available to every patient who needs it, says Jason MacLean, President of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE).

Documents made public by the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party show that Canadian Plasma Resources, a private pay-for-plasma company, singled out Nova Scotia as a target market in their 2016/17 business plan. The NDP has introduced legislation that would ban paid plasma donations.

“Making it illegal to operate for-profit blood collection centres in Nova Scotia would send a strong message that we want to keep private corporations out of our health care system,” said MacLean. “The NSGEU/NUPGE believes in a publicly funded and operated health care system that keeps our blood supply safe and available to patients who needs it.”

“It would be irresponsible for our government to stand by and allow companies to enter our province and put our public blood supply at risk. We are asking Stephen McNeil to stand up for what is right; keep our blood supply safe and in public control.”

Members of the NSGEU/NUPGE work as laboratory technologists, lab assistants, biomedical technologists, equipment specialists, and laboratory secretaries, among other occupations at Canadian Blood Services in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 370,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. — NUPGE